Timberwolves start slow, finish strong

Saturday

Nov 10, 2012 at 12:10 AM

MANTECA - Sierra got off to a slow start Friday night but then scored four unanswered touchdowns on the way to a 28-8 win over visiting Sacramento-Rosemont in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

Dave Campbell

MANTECA - Sierra got off to a slow start Friday night but then scored four unanswered touchdowns on the way to a 28-8 win over visiting Sacramento-Rosemont in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

"They were firing on all cylinders to start out the game," Timberwolves coach Jeff Harbison said. "That was a big strong team that executed really well on their first drive, and then our defense responded."

After the Wolverines (6-5) scored on their opening drive, neither team could muster a score the rest of the first quarter.

Midway through the second period, the Sierra defense pinned Rosemont inside its 5-yard line, forcing the Wolverines to punt from their own end zone. Jordan Lewis took full advantage of the situation, running up to catch the kick at the Rosemont 40 and sprinting into the end zone to draw the Timberwolves within 8-7 with 5 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first half.

"The ball was high in the air and it was kind of dark," Lewis said. "And then I hit the corner and followed great blocking into the end zone."

Lewis' touchdown appeared to stun Rosemont, and two plays later Guillermo Nunez made his first of two interceptions, setting up Anthony Cota's 10-yard touchdown run with 2:50 left in the first half to give Sierra (10-1) a 14-8 lead it would not relinquish.

"The interceptions were right there," Nunez said. "I just had to go up in the air and get them."

Nunez also scored two third-quarter touchdowns - one on a 5-yard run and the other on a 14-yard pass from Jake Pruitt. Nunez finished with 91 yards on six receptions, and Pruitt was 12 of 18 for 134 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

"Jake threw some nice passes to me," Nunez said. "And now we have at least another week to play."

Cota ran for 134 yards on 23 carries.

"We started a little slow but we picked it up," Cota said. "Once we warmed up, we were doing everything we were supposed to.

"We bounced back, and that is what matters."

The Timberwolves defense allowed 58 yards on the ground and 160 through the air.

In addition to Nunez's two interceptions, Garrett DeVillanueva had an interception and Jesus Perez recovered a fumble for Sierra.